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2,490 ft
Distance
128 ft
Climb
-108 ft
Descent
00:04:13
Avg time
20 ft
Altitude change
1,107 ft
Altitude min
1,188 ft
Altitude max
1,107 ft
Altitude start
1,129 ft
Altitude end
0.8%
Grade
-24.2%
Grade max
26.8%
Grade min
1,066 ft
Distance climb
1,017 ft
Distance down
407 ft
Distance flat
00:04:13
Avg time
Witch Hill Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Winter Fat Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaPort Hills East
Christchurch -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlack Diamond (1 vote)
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Local Popularity80 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 100 in Trail Running
- 95 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC, Fat
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Climb DifficultyBlue
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Physical RatingModerate
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Dogs AllowedYes
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Land Owner
Begin the ride at the east end of Rapaki car park on a single track that runs under the large basalt columns of Rapaki Rock.
Climb 70m up a smooth shared use single track to the beginning of the mountain bike track.
The track then makes its way around Rapaki Rock and Witch Hill. Rocky technical single track with undulating terrain that doesn't let up for the majority of the ride.
A great track if you want to test your navigation skills through lava flows and boulders.
Stunning views on both sides at the end of the ride – out over Canterbury Plains and into Lyttelton.
source: Christchurch City Council
Access Info
Cycle up the Rapaki Track or access from Summit Road.
Local Trail Association
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-
Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 1 rides
- 22 miles average
6 Months
- 42 rides
- 22 miles avg distance
All
- 279 rides
- Last: Jun 28, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Witch Hill Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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- > 90%
- > 80%
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- < 50%
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Trail Last Ridden
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- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
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- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
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- Uphill Only
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Trail Popularity ?
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Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades.
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Directions to witch-hill trailhead
(-43.594120, 172.674520)
Videos
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Routes with this trail
★ 5.0 • 22 miles • 3,732 ft • 32 • Point to Point •
This route is a great way to see some of what the port hills have to offer. This route does not contain...
58 miles • 10,794 ft • 19 • Out & Back •
3000 meter full day epic starting at Halswell Quarry and ending at Taylor's mistake before an...
22 miles • 3,257 ft • 6 •
Typical Saturday Run. From Rapaki to Sumner Loop. Enjoy the view
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- By googes1 & contributors
- #27192 - 9,501 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Witch Hill
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Where is Witch Hill located?
Witch Hill is located in Port Hills East, Christchurch, New Zealand. It is part of the Port Hills East trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates -43.59412, 172.67452.
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How hard is Witch Hill?
Witch Hill is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.8%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
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What is the elevation gain for Witch Hill?
Witch Hill has 128 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 108 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,107 ft to 1,188 ft.
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How long is Witch Hill?
Witch Hill is 2,490 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
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